ACADEMICAL REPORT 2022

The curtain has fallen on an excellent season for EACC. This was a season of change with Andrew Cosh (EA 1994–2003) handing the captaincy baton on to Max Banks (EA 2002–07) who led the team 15 years after captaining the School 1st XI. The Club was delighted to be able to field a 3rd team who performed exceptionally in the ESCA Development League.

We welcomed our new sponsors — Pepe Nero and Francos of Stockbridge — as well as a rejuvenated social media presence, including live streams of all matches via YouTube, and a large influx of new players. A huge thank you to Calum Huntington (EA 2008–13) who, as well as being the best fielder at the Club, has provided his professional photography and social media skills this season to great effect. Please do check out his exceptional work at www. calumhuntington.com and on Instagram @calum.huntington too. A big thank you too for the tireless work on the ground from George, John and Ryan. New Field is one of the best pitches on the circuit and is hugely appreciated by all at the Club. Finally, as always, a big thank you to the School for their continued support, without which the Club would not be able to thrive as it is.

ACADEMICALS 1ST XI

This was a season like no other with only half a game rained off in 18 matches. The season started brightly with a win away at Penicuik, Calum Huntington belting the winning runs in a swashbuckling 40 not out. Big wins followed, including a superb display away at Gala who, despite fielding a number of pros were dismissed for just 116, Rajat Wahi taking 4-41, Terry Singh 3-24 and Jack Mackinnon (EA 2000–13) 2-2. A close match against Penicuik at home started with a fine 116 run opening partnership between Max Banks and Andrew Cosh who went on to make an excellent 87 and set a total of 224. Rajat Wahi started well with the ball taking 3-43, however, with Penicuik creeping up to 194 with 5 overs to spare, the game was set to be a close finish before Max Banks took the winning wicket finishing with 2-34. The team were in the promotion race with four games to go, however, two defeats to Gala and Carlton saw our chances fade. Despite that, the season ended on a high with a win against Grange at the home of Scottish cricket including a fine 60 by Kannan Muthuramalingam and 5-42 by Praba Kuppusamy. Andrew Cosh finished the season in style scoring exactly 100 away at Morton.

One highlight Accies readers may enjoy was back-to-back wins against Heriot’s, the second of which was at home and, after putting themselves in to bat, were bowled out for just 94 runs, Jack Mackinnon taking out their entire top 4 with 4-31 and Accies winning by 8 wickets.

A special mention for Vice President Andrew Cosh who opened the batting scoring 634 runs at 35.22 with a top score of 100. Andrew won the highest run scorer and leading catcher awards in the Championship, both honours he has now won an incredible four times. Coshy was also a leading scorer in the Masterton T20 Trophy, making 119 runs and taking his overall season run tally to 753, a remarkable effort that he should be exceptionally proud of. New recruit Rajat Wahi was leading wicket taker in the division for most of the season taking 35 wickets at 16.63.

Jack Mackinnon was the most improved player this season, bowling with exceptional control of the new ball, those outswingers putting fear into every top order batsman’s mind. Jack ended up with 30 wickets at 15.10, a remarkable achievement in his last season before a stint in Australia. Those Championship stats should mean he has the pick of any club over there.

Some great victories were balanced with a few games leaving the team thinking about what could have been. However, a mid-table finish was a fine achievement with the team showing an infectious team spirit and this will only be stronger for the experience of a Scottish 50 over season. To have been in with a sniff of promotion with four games to go was incredibly encouraging. Five Academicals represented the team this year, a record the Club would love to build on in years to come.

ACADEMICALS 2ND XI

Definitely a season to remember for the team, who secured promotion with two games to go. Captain Yogesh Khanchi led by example scoring 642 runs at 64.20 including two centuries. He also took 15 wickets at 27.40, astonishingly good stats. Amit Poni, who joined the Club this year, was a revelation taking 41 wickets at just 13.10 with a best of 4/10. The 2nd XI now moves up to ESCA Division 1 having gone right through from Division 6, with many of the players remaining from those early days. Incredibly exciting times for both the team and the Club.

ACADEMICALS 3RD XI

The Club were delighted to put out a 3rd XI this season, brilliantly led by Michael Clayton in the ESCA Development League. The team comfortably won the league, winning six out of seven games, and the enthusiasm from all the players was fantastic — so much so that plans are underway to field a league 3rd XI and we expect a number of new players to strengthen the Club going into next season.

Max Banks (EA 2002–07) 1st XI Captain